UGA set to host cotton, peanut field day on Tifton campus

University of Georgia cotton and peanut research will be on display at an annual field day in Tifton next month.

Scientists from UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and industry experts will lead the field day set for the UGA Tifton Campus on Sept. 10.

The half-day event, sponsored by the Georgia Cotton Commission and Georgia Peanut Commission, will feature speakers talking about cotton and peanut agronomics, variety testing, breeding, weed control, diseases, insects and fertility. Economists will also be on hand to discuss the market outlook for both crops.

“What we’re going to do is showcase all the different research that’s going on that’s supported by those two commissions,” said Guy Collins, UGA Extension cotton agronomist on the UGA Tifton Campus. “There’s a lot of folks at UGA working in both of these crops so we really only have time to hit the highlights. We’re going to hit the most important research that’s going on in both of these commodities that’s supported by both of those commissions.”

The field day will start at 8:30 a.m. at UGA’s Gibbs Farm before relocating to the Lang Farm around 11 a.m. Lunch will be held at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center at 12:45 p.m. Those planning to attend need to RSVP by Tuesday, Sept. 2 to Michelle Pitts at mpitts@uga.edu or by phone at (229) 386-3006.

UGA’s new Extension peanut agronomist Scott Monfort will be on hand to meet and greet industry personnel and farmers. Monfort stresses the importance of the field day and the information that will be relayed to the public.

“Some of the topics that you will hear during this tour include disease, weed and insect management by some of the world’s leading Extension and research faculty,” Monfort said. “This is a perfect opportunity for growers to have a chance to speak with specialists one-on-one in regards to issues they might encounter on their own farm.”